Space camp activities honor Glenn, Apollo 11

Debbie Allender, director of the John and AnnieGlenn Museum in New Concord, presents the book Apollo's First Moon Landing, to Landen Snell and Noah Green during Space Camp Tuesday.(Photo: Shelly Schultz)

NEW CONCORD - At 4:17 p.m. Eastern Time, July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, the capsule's occupants, would be the first humans to ever land on another galactic body. Their mission would take place 10 years after a John Glenn, who grew up in New Concord, was chosen as one of the first seven astronauts in the U.S. space program.

Three years later, Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. On Friday, Glenn, who died in 2016, would have celebrated his 98th birthday.

On Tuesday, the John and Annie Glenn Museum honored both of these historic moments during its annual children's space camp.

"We always hold space camp this week in July to celebrate John Glenn's birthday," said Debbie Allender, museum director. "But this year, we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo's first landing,"

About 30 children, aged 8 to 11 from as far away as Beavercreek, attended the space camp. Their day began with a movie on the late astronaut's life and continued with out-of-this-world experiences throughout the day.

Some of their projects included team-building exercises and "making a cooling suit to show how the astronaut's keep cool in space," Allender said.

The day ended with a tour of the museum, which is located at Glenn's boyhood home on Main Street. Each child also took home with a copy of "Apollo's First Moon Landing."

"It was always John Glenn's wish that we use the museum for education," Allender said.

Landen Snell, one of the attendees of this year's space camp, is a New Concord native and familiar with John Glenn.

Hidden Figures is a 2016 movie based on the non-fiction book with the same name, about black female mathematicians who worked at the NASA during the Space Race and, more importantly, during segregation.

Noah Green said he attended space camp at his grandmother's suggestion.

"It's fun," Green said. "I like science and going to COSI."

Allender said the museum hosts about 5,000 visitors each year, not including special events and school trips. It's mission is to honor the first American to orbit the earth and his partnership with a remarkable woman. The museum is also a good example of life during the Great Depression and the home front during World War II.